Shock-absorbing wheel



arch 4 1924.,

1,485,644 G. E. TAYLOR, JR

snocx ABSORBING WHEEL Fil ed Dec- 21. 1922 lPatented Mar. 4, 11924.

UNITE STATEQ GEORGE ELI-ARI) TAYLOR, 33., OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI.

SHOCK-ABSOIN G WHEEL.

Application filed December 21, 1922. Serial No. 608,2e1.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ELLARD TAY- LOR, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbia, in the county of Boone and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Shock-Absorbing Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvement in shock-absorbing wheels in which an arrangement of compression coil-springs, plates, and push-rods carry the load and absorb the shock; and the objects of the improvement are: first, to provide means by which the working mechanism may be properly lubricated by forming an oil-tight case which carries the lubricating oil and also keeps dirt and other foreign matter out of the working parts; second, to afford a continuous cushioned effect between hub and road-tread of the wheel by using an arrangement of compression coil-springs,

plates, pins, and push-rods.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. I is a view in elevation of thewheel, certain structuralffeatures thereof being removed, showing arrangement of the spring mechanism and wheel-drum plate cross-ties; Fig. 11 a vertical section of the wheel showing general construction; Fig. III is'a top plan view; and, IV a side elevation of one of the spring structures.

The outside rim 1 with imbedded roadtread 2 (however rubber road-tread is unnecessary when used on rough implements such as farm machinery) with outside wheel-drum plate 3, inside wheel-drum plate 4, attached hub-cap 5 and cross-ties 6 con stitute the outside framework of the wheel. In this framework reciprocates the assembly consisting of axle 7, hub 8, drum 9 having oil stufiing box space (when used on driving wheel-drum 9 has braking surface as shown in drawing Fig. II, but when used elsewhere braking surface may be omitted) adjustable stufiing box band 10 suitable packing 11, ofiset hub-plate 12 and outside hub-plate 13, which are all attached to the wheel spokes 14: by the bolts 15. On the outside end of the spokes 14: is inner rim 16, having two annular grooves 17--17 in which are placed wearing rings 1818 respectively.

In the inner rim 16 are the holes 27 which are transverse in direction anddisposed at spaced intervals along the circumference of the member 16. In these holes 27 are placed compression coil-springs 19 which create an outward pressure on the wearing rings 18-18 and cause them to rub tightly against the wheel-drum plates 3 and 4.

This assembly described above is attached to the outer rim 1 by a series of coil-springs 30, plates 31, pins 28, and push rods 21 23 and 24 and the wheel gets its cushioned effect by the tension on said series of springs surrounding said push-rods and between said plates.

Attached to inner rim 16 are the lugs 20 which form a recess to receive and form a hinged connection for the double pushrods 2121 to work in. 22 are lugs secured to outer rim forming a recess to receive and form a hinged connection that .the pushrods 23 and 24 work in, and said lugs are also fastened to outer rim 1. The push-rods 2121, 23, and 24: previously referred to and shown in Fig. HI each have a head with holes and are fastened in the lugs 20 and 22 by means of the bolts 25 and 26 thru these holes, and in such a manner as to form a hinged} connection. The construction of the spring mechanism is such that in absorbing the road-shock and carryin the load the tension is equally carried on a l of the springs 30 all the time.

The mechanism is so constructed that the coil-springs 30 are under compression when the push-rod heads are compressed and also under compression when the push-rod heads are expanded. Each of the springs 30 in each assembly (three of which are shown in the accompanying drawing although four or more may be used) may be compressed when the push-rod heads are expanded; or, each may be compressed when the push-rod heads are compressed; or, at the same time, one of the pair of springs may be compressed when the push-r0 s are expanded while the other is compressed when the heads are compressed.

The lubricating oil 29 is poured directly into the wheel between the outside and inside wheel-drums 3 and 4: and forms a splash system which lubricates the entire mechanism.

Having fully and clearly illustrated and described my wheel I claim:

In a spring wheel, consisting of an inner and an outer rim, sprin elements connecting said rims consisting o a plurality of push rods, means for connecting said push-rods to outer rim and to the inner rim, said means comprisin heads on said push-rods which are secure to lugs, fastened to the inner and outer rims, by a bolt through each head so as to form a hinged connection, pins inserted in said push-rods between which are arranged plates retaining a coil spring which limits the movement of the plates, each of said plates having three holes therein for said push-rods, the coil-springs being compression springs which are disposed between said plates and surround said pushrods certain of the push-rods being secured at their outer ends to the lugs on the outer rim and the others to the lugs on the inner rim, the spring system completely enclosed within two side plates which are securely fastened to both sides of the outer rim, said side-plates holding inner and outer rims in alignment, the inner side plate having a stufling box so as to form an oil-tight joint, making" an oil tight enclosure between the two side-plates, and oil within said enclosure to lubricate the mechanism.

GEURGE ELLARD TAYLOR, J R. 

